Yes

I've been bullied too long, I'm getting paranoid, hasn't Elise done enough to at least earn a bit of trust? She's asking for a 5 minute walk, not my hand in marriage. I blame Amanda, she's got me thinking all hot girls are evil incarnate. Elise's eyes stare expectantly, I'm taking too long thinking this through.

"Okay, but don't expect a warm welcome, my mother's not as easy-going, there's a real chance you could witness my ****." I reply, eliciting a chuckle from Elise. Yes, I'm joking. Probably. Probably not. Not at all actually. I'm so fucked. We set off towards my house, usually it's pretty convenient living so close, right now it's a nightmare, no stay of execution for me.

"Have they always been so..." Elise trails off, the frown on her face says she's trying to find a delicate word, doesn't bother me, but I appreciate the tact, makes a change. "Brutal?" She finishes, the frown replaced with a look of concern.

"Not quite, it's been a slow escalation, but eventually they realised no one was gonna stop them, not like anyone cared enough to risk being their next target." I explain, it sounds crazy, but how many people do you think actually care about bullying? A lot less than the amount that would say they do, that's for sure.

"Bullies are cowards, I'm not scared." Elise responds decisively. "Besides, what's life without a little conflict?" She follows up. I'm starting to think she secretly enjoys the idea of punching people. Doesn't strike me as the sadistic type, maybe she's just bored? Can't imagine how Mum's gonna react to her, maybe she'll be so impressed that I have friends that she'll forget about the fight? Not likely, we're almost home now, almost within **** range. Wait.

I grab Elise's shoulder to bring her to a halt, "That's Jasper's Car."

To explain why this is the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life, I need to explain my brother. Jasper Vermilion Cray, (Oh yeah, my last name is Cray, don't think I mentioned that) so nice they named him twice, he's two years older than me and Rouge, and he's treated like it, the apple of my Mum's eye, parents aren't supposed to have favourites, but I never liked too much attention, so it works for me. Jasper was the king of school, left at 16, joined up at a delivery company and upgraded them to the 21st century, the boss was so impressed he kept big bro on as the newly-created job of head of IT. From there he switched from company to company, until now, where he manages a chain of PC and tech stores.

I know the obvious question, why didn't he help with the bullies? Well, because I never told him, Mum either. I know Jasper, if I mentioned it to him he'd fly off the handle, probably get himself arrested, lose everything, I couldn't do that. That being said, if he's heard about the fight and come to calm Mum down, I might just be able to explain how it went down, maybe I'm not dead yet.

"Jasper?" Elise questioned.

"Might just save our skin." I smirk, and walk a bit faster towards the front door, only when I open it does the fear hit me again.

"Get your arse in here!" I hear my mother's voice echo. I comply, opening the door fully and entering the living room. Jasper's sat comfortably with a cup of tea in a recliner at the side of the room, a look on his face telling me I'm definitely in trouble, as if I thought I wasn't going to be. My brother's tall, not sure how tall, but closer to 7 foot than 6, he's skinny as a rake but he's got the money to afford clothing that suits it. His casual demeanour at odds with the incomprehensible rage I felt from my mother.

Is this the part where I say my Mum's a gorgeous MILF? Not quite, she's pretty, but she's 45 and has raised 3 kids without much help, she looks like a mum. She's roughly my height, with her blazing red hair tied up in a bun and a face that I imagine is going to be exactly like mine in 30 years. Her oversized beige jumper and loose black bottoms hiding her small size. I think he does it on purpose to be more intimidating. It works.

"Sit." she says simply, gesturing to the couch, I obey and quickly take my seat, putting down my bad and taking off my jacket. "The school rang me, they told me you got into a fight and broke a girl's teeth, what in the Hell is wrong with you? Why would you do that?" The fury in my mother's voice was not well hidden, but that story sounds about right, not like Amanda was going to admit she's been on my case since we were 4, was she?

"I..." I begin, but even I don't know how to end that sentence. "I just..." I try again, but fear chokes my voice, and I can feel tears welling up.

"You just what?" Demands my mother, eyes fixed unblinkingly on mine.

"She didn't do anything." Comes Elise's voice, taking me aback, I'd almost forgotten she was here is the sudden ambush from my family. "I punched that bitch." She continued, well, there goes that rescue, rule of thumb, if you're introduced to anyone, try not to swear in the first sentence. Maybe they don't have that rule in France. Jasper certainly seemed to enjoy it, almost choked on his tea. Mum looks like she's seen a ghost.

"Who on Earth are you, and what are you talking about?" My mother responds robotically, I think the anger's short-circuited her brain.

"I'm Elise, those girls were extorting her, they kept hitting her, Scarlet didn't do anything, it's not her fault." Elise explains, not quite as confidently as her previous statement, can't blame her, I've felt that stare, it could halt a truck.

"Thank you, but if I may, my daughter knows what to do if someone bothers her, and it's not ****." My mother responds, each word coated in venom. "As much as I would love to take the word of a stranger, I'm talking to my daughter, please wait outside." I hate when she sounds reasonable, usually means she's winding up for the haymaker.

"Apparently the stranger knows more than you if you think this is a one-off." Oh Elise, sweet Elise, I'll remember you when you're gone. "I've been on the scene for one morning and I've done more about the situation than you!" She continued, sure, if you're getting KO'd you might as well go down swinging. I'm scared to even look, my face rests in my hands, but the silence goes on for an eternity. I look to Jasper, a look of confusion and an abnormal anger, then I look to Mum. anticipating the Hellfire she's about to bring. What I get is the sight of my mother's shocked face, and tears growing in her eyes.

"What is she talking about?" My mother murmurs, the shock appearing to overwhelm her rage.

"They..." I begin, again, did I really expect to finish that sentence? "Since the first day..."

"The first day of the year?" Asks Jasper, breaking his silence, I know Mum's asking the same from her wordless face.

"The first day of school, primary school." I finally get out, and it's too much for my mother, the wail she makes chills my soul, as she collapses into a now standing Jasper's arms. You have to understand, my mother's produced tech mogul Jasper and wonder-child Rouge, the thought that I was suffering while she was so proud hits deep, it's why I couldn't tell her sooner.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Asks jasper, quietly, still cradling our distraught mother.

"What could you do? Nothing, I tried telling a teacher a couple of times, but it just got worse." I explain, tears no longer restrained to my eyes. "I just wanted to be left alone, to be normal like you and Rouge."

At this point I'm not sure who's crying the most. I look to Elise who seemed to have the strength of a rock, she was visibly concerned, but I don't think she expected her words to cause all this.

"Ellie, right? Can you take Scarlet upstairs? I need to take care of my Mum." Jasper requests, I would be offended, but Jasper's reasonable, not like he can leave either of us alone, and might not be a good idea to leave Elise with Mum right after this conversation, makes sense. Elise doesn't bother to correct him, she touches my shoulder and gestures out the door.

We make her exit and I lead her to my room, any other circumstances and this would be the realms of showerhead territory, as it is, the only thing wet is my cheeks. Entering my room, Elise sits me down on my bed and looks around, she grabs a chair from my make-up table, as well as some tissues, and sat next to me.

"Here." She said simply, handing me a sheet. "I know you said it'd be bad, but I didn't think it'd go like that."

"You're new, you'll get used to it." I smile. "Assuming you're not running for the hills after walking into this 4 hours after meeting me?"

Elise laughs. I like when Elise laughs.

"No chance!" She retorts, smile still on her face. "I was worried I wouldn't have friends here, I think all of this makes us best friends, no?"

This girl's weird. I don't mind.

"Well, it's a vacant position, and you're the only applicant, I'd say I don't have a choice in the matter." I confirm, it's strange, after the whole incident with my mother I should be sad, but I feel light, like a weight's been lifted, not because my mother knows, honestly, I kinda wish she still didn't, but at least I'm not alone anymore.

As warm and fuzzy as this is there's no escaping the inevitable. I need to speak to Mum. This reminder comes courtesy of a knock on the door, followed by it opening to reveal Jasper's kind face.

"Scarlet, I think Mum's calmed down, can you go see her?" He asks, so politely it almost feels formal. "Ellie, how do you fancy some food? I'll whip you up something, can't be sending you back to your parents hungry." He continues. Elise nods and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Talk to her." She says simply, standing and walking to the door. "My name is Elise by the way." She adds, walking past Jasper and down the stairs, Jasper gives me a quick look signalling yikes before following her, which forces a chuckle. I finally begin walking down the stairs, and through the door to the living room.